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I got an email last night from Workshop with a few Caravan reno threads so thought I'd add a thread of my own now that I've made a bit of progress on it. I've been working on this little 10ft York caravan for just over a year, mostly just me but hubby helps with the mechanical side (he also rebuilt the chassis as he's a boily) and if I need a second pair of hands like when I put the ceiling up.
I don't have a trade, I am self taught and follow a lot of other renos on FB and Instagram. The only tradie I will get in will be the electrician to hook up a few power points and add a safety switch, I won't be fitting gas so no need for a fitter.
You'll see many items in the below photos from Bunnings, I almost live there. 
This is where I'm up to now and will post more photos as I get the next stages done. Hope you like it 
I too have discovered the use of the electric knife for cutting foam, works a treat. If anyone is going to have a go I suggest practice on some scrap foam, to get the feel for it
Today I've been having fun with the Permastik magnetic insect screens from Bunnings.
Hi Rosemary @echopepper18
I don't know of any work shops as such but I know there's quite a few like minded people on facebook. I'm in a few caravan renovation groups and there are a lot ideas thrown around and everyone is very encouraging. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put links up but there's 2 main groups (fix it or renovate that caravan and caravan renovations), mainly Aussie but there are a few New Zealanders in there, they may have an idea of other groups over there.
Hi Rosemary (@echopepper18)
Welcome to Workshop, a community for D.I.Y. and gardening discussion. Your daughter will be more than welcome to join our community. We have wonderful people sharing helpful advice and inspiration every day. I'm sure she would get plenty of support and engagement for her caravan renovation. @Peggers's How to renovate a caravan series would be a good place to start.
Jason
A little more progress to report. I've made my own blinds and hung the side ones, I still haven't tackled the big front and back windows with the magnetic flyscreens yet, putting them up is definitely a 2 person job.
I've also built the first lower cupboard. I'll put a bench top on this once I've done the kitchen side. I've used FJ pine stapled together with wide crown staples using the same construction methods as used during the 70s and 80s and maybe still today (I haven't pulled a newer van apart to see 😏 ). I've added a few screws where I couldn't staple both sides of the pieces and I've only used glue to put the ply on, no glue in the joins.
Out of interest, I weighed this cupboard as it stands there with the ply lining and it weighed 6.5kg, a similar sized flatpack cupboard weighs 19.2kg. Weight and weight distribution is very important when rebuilding the interior, I try to stick to the same layout as original as close as I can, I believe that's the weight and distribution that caravan was built to take.
I hope this helps anyone embarking on a similar project. 😊
Follow me on instagram https://www.instagram.com/twocutekelpies/ 😁
For some reason, I'm unable to post any more photos on my original thread so I hope it's ok to put this up with before and current photos of my almost complete little caravan rebuild. My boilermaker hubby did the chassis work and I had an electrician fit off the 240v wiring but the rest is all me learning as I went. I hope you like it 😊
Shelley
I have more details of the build in my other thread.
Many thanks for the comprehensive update Shelley (@twocutekelpies). How exciting that the caravan is almost complete! Do you have your first trip planned?
Sorry that you seem to have had trouble making your post. I've merged it with your original thread so members get all the context and see everything together. I will send you a private message to try to better understand why you weren't able to add photos.
Thanks again,
Jason
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